water dripping out of ac unit, ductwork

[rprice54]

I'll try to get pics later today. I've got a 1 yr old AC unit in my attic. a year ago when we moved into the house (new) there was a water stain on the celing below it- they said it was a clogged line, it had sat unused for a few months before they cranked it on. also the line outside wasn't dripping at all, so it made sense. The guy came and blew out the line and installed an upside down T in the drain line about 2 feet from the trap, with the top part open to prevent any kind of air-lock in the line. no probs until we noticed a water spot in the celing again yesterday. it's a horizontal unit. change the air filters ever 90 days (they are 90 day filters).

The drain has been dripping constantly on the outside like usual. I sucked out the line with the shop vac, and noticed on the unit that the bottom screws on the coil panels are rusted out, the bottom corners are rusted out, and the actual drip is coming from the bottom of the duct that comes out of the unit. the secondary drain was plugged. I put a bowl under the duct and opened the secondary drain (there is a large drip pan under the secondary drain) and checked on it a few hours later. the bowl is full and water was dripping briskly out of the secondary drain, but also out of the primary drain. I blew it out from above with the shop vac and poured about a gallon of water down it which flowed out no prob. the drain is open and clean, so why is all this water dripping out of every seam?

[Ed Imeduc]

Can have lots of ifs ifs. Is P trap by unit and no vent pipe there?? Tilt of unit to drain???

we moved into the house (new) there was a water stain on the celing below it- they said it was a clogged line, it had sat unused for a few months before they cranked it on.
If it didnt run that time what clogged the drain??
On some laydown AC coils they need a small sheet metal shield so the water dont blow off the coil and into the cabinet????

ED ;)

[rprice54]

Here is the rusty bottom (http://home.carolina.rr.com/rcprice/ac1.jpg) after only one year of use.

Here are the drains. (http://home.carolina.rr.com/rcprice/ac3.jpg) The secondary drain is on the left and is plugged (not for long) and the primary and the open upside down T. Water also seeps out from around the two drains. I covered this with tape as a test after reading about a similar problem on this website. We'll see if it works.


Here is the leaky duct (http://home.carolina.rr.com/rcprice/ac2.jpg) , you'll notice the drip pan falls short. The water in the pan is from me unplugging the secondary drain to keep an eye on it.

So far the duct tape fix is working, no drips in the glass bowl after ~4hours of running. Why would it work for a year and then clog up all of a sudden? Although the rust makes me think maybe not so all of a sudden. AC guy coming out to look at it anyways tomorrow.

[Ed Imeduc]

Is big copper line out side by the compressor unit cold and wet? If not can be low on freon

ED ;)

[rprice54]

it's insulated right up to the compressor, but it is cold and wet. the house cools fine, I don't think it's low or the coils are freezing up, just a drainage problem.